Place of Birth

Creators

Contents

History

They are ruled over by Malekith the Accursed, and the most powerful amongst their ranks was Algrim the Strong. However, Algrim was betrayed by Malekith in a bid to kill Thor. Algrim was dropped into lava and, though he survived, he was critically wounded. The Beyonder transformed Algrim into the monstrous Kurse,[3] who seemingly killed Malekith for his betrayal.[4]

Years later, Malekith was broken out of Hel by Dark Elves loyal to him and returned to Svartalfheim with the commando's sole survivor Scumtongue. Seeing that his people had grown weak and wouldn't accept him as their ruler, he and his followers began hunting his kind to make them strong again, starting in a village where they massacred all save for the woman Waziria. Thor and the Warriors Three soon came, but Malekith escaped. He began a civil war in Svartalheim, targeting the Dark Elf refugees in the Nine Realms.[7] He tracked down Alfyse hiding in Nidavellir with the Dwarves and killed her, turning the Dark Elves into a state of civil war and chaos.[8]

Malekith's men hunted and killed Dark Elves refugees in all Realms, and were opposed by the League of Realms, a team formed by the Congress of Worlds, led by Thor and including members of the Nine Realms, joined by Waziria.[8]

He then showed up on Earth where the Council of the Unhallowed gathered, and after a fight, the council declared that they had decided to unite their people with Malekith as their ruler. Scumtongue was appointed senator in the congress of worlds.[9]

The Dark Elves existed before the Nine Realms, in the primordial chaos. Their goal is to destroy the current universe and return existence back to that state. They were believed exterminated after an attempt to do that five thousand years ago, but in reality, Malekith and a number of warriors escaped on a stealth ship and went into stasis until another attempt would be possible.[10] The Collector kept a member of the Dark Elves as part of his collection.[11]

Appearance

The Dark Elves' appearances can vary a lot: They can have pink/"caucasian",[12] blue,[9] or orange skin.[13][14]

Religion

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Dark elves possess gifted intellects, as well as superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes. Some Dark Elves, like Malekith, can use fairy magic do shapeshift, teleport, project energy blasts, and so on.

Weaknesses

All Dark Elves are vulnerable to the element of iron.

Miscellaneous

Type of Government: MonarchyLevel of Technology: MagicRepresentatives: See Dark Elves

Notes

Any relations between the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim (or the Light Elves of Alfheim) and the Elves of Otherworld is unconfirmed,[15] but both Light and Dark Elves are considered to be included among the Faerie of Celtic myth,[16] while another account described only the Dark Elves as being of the same race as those Faerie (leaving no relation between Faerie and Light Elves).[17]

Trivia

In early comics by Walter Simonson, The Dark Elves (save by Malekith) had normal skin color. They later came to have purple/blue skin tone.